AFRICA: In Mali, a spokesman for the rebel group Ansar Dine announced after retreating to the Algerian border, the group intended on surrendering to Algerian forces.

AMERICAS: A Mississippi man was arrested and accused of sending Ricin-laced letters to the President and a Senator, which were intercepted by the Secret Service.

ASIA: South Korea rejected the North’s preconditions for resumed dialogue, which included removal of sanctions and ending joint military drills with the US.

EUROPE: In France, IMF Chief Lagarde will face questioning by a special committee on suspected corruption stemming from her time as Finance Minister.

MIDDLE EAST: Iraqi security forces near Tikrit were hunting Izzat Ibrahim al Douri, a senior member of Saddam Hussein’s inner circle, who has been on the run since 2003.

TECHNOLOGY: Many Palestinians are looking to a fledgling high-tech sector as they lay the groundwork for a future state, saying the unique hardships of life in the West Bank have fostered a creative spirit conducive to the world of startups.

TOP STORY

Pakistan: A court ordered the arrest of former strongman Musharraf for charges that include involvement in the 2007 killing of Benazir Bhutto.

The former president’s security team rushed him out of the courtroom after his bail was revoked, driving away before he could be detained.

Musharraf’s spokesman said his legal team would appeal the warrant before the Supreme Court.

Many judges in the country are still upset from the former leader’s 2007 decision to suspend the constitution, remove the Chief Justice, and place many judges under house arrest.

Region: South African President Zuma is expected to attend a summit in Chad to discuss the conflict in the CAR with ECCAS leaders. (Bloomberg)

Ivory Coast: A UN official said there had been a serious improvement in the country’s security situation in the two years since the post-election violence. (Xinhua)

Madagascar: Former President Ratsiraka returned to the country after 11 years in exile after an election dispute to attend a national reconciliation conference. (AFP)

Mali: A spokesman for the rebel group Ansar Dine announced after retreating to the Algerian border, the group intended on surrendering to Algerian forces. (Xinhua)

AMERICAS

Chile: The Senate voted to impeach the education minister for professional misconduct as students protested calling for his dismissal. (AP)

United States: A massive blast at a fertilizer plant killed an estimated five to 15 people, wounded more than 160, and damaged 50 to 60 homes in a 5-block area, officials in West, Texas said. (CNN)

United States: A Mississippi man was arrested and accused of sending Ricin-laced letters to the President and a senator, which were intercepted by the Secret Service. (AP)

Venezuela: The Supreme Court ruled there was no legal basis for holding a manual recount as had been demanded by Capriles after disputing the results. (AP)

ASIA

Afghanistan: The Taliban vowed to take revenge on coalition troops in response to Guantanamo guards firing non-lethal rounds at inmates to quell unrest. (AFP)

China: A press freedom group criticized a ruling that banned journalists from quoting foreign news outlets without permission, further tightening Beijing’s control of the media. (AFP)

Korea, South: The government rejected the North’s preconditions for resumed dialogue, which included removal of sanctions and ending joint military drills with the US. (AFP-1, AFP-2)

Vietnam: A man was given a jail sentence of three years for writing articles critical of the communist government and state leadership. (AFP)

EUROPE

France: IMF Chief Lagarde will face questioning by a special committee on suspected corruption stemming from her time as Finance Minister. (AFP)

Germany: Chancellor Merkel announced if she is reelected in September she intends to serve another full four-year term after speculation that she would step down in 2015. (Reuters)

Italy: As the Senate convened to vote for a new president, Franco Marini, a former trade unionist, emerged as the frontrunner, threatening to divide the center-left. (AFP)

Portugal: Parliament approved new spending cuts to put an EU/IMF bailout plan back on track after a constitutional court rejected a number of austerity measures. (Reuters)

MIDDLE EAST

Iraq: Security forces near Tikrit were hunting Izzat Ibrahim al Douri, a senior member of Saddam Hussein’s inner circle, who has been on the run since 2003. (Reuters)

Jordan: The government said it was against military intervention in Syria as more US troops deploy to the country to bolster the mission on the border. (AFP)

Syria: Activists claim rebel fighters have taken control of large parts of a strategic military base in the central Homs province, near the border with Lebanon. (AP)

United Arab Emirates: Authorities broke up an al Qaeda cell comprised of seven Arabs who had been plotting attacks in the country and was also involved in recruitment and logistical support for the organization. (AFP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Palestinian Territories: Many are looking to a fledgling high-tech sector as they lay the groundwork for a future state, saying the unique hardships of life in the West Bank have fostered a creative spirit conducive to the world of startups. (AP)

WORLD

Cyclones: Nothing to report

Hurricanes: Nothing to report

Earthquakes: Nothing to report

Volcanoes: Nothing to report

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (19APR)

Global: IMF and World Bank Spring Meeting (to 21APR).

Bahrain: Protestors plan to step up demands for reform ahead of the weekend’s Formula One Grand Prix (to 21APR).

Georgia: The Georgian party United National Movement, led by President Mikheil Saakashvili, will hold a protest rally in Tbilisi.

Ukraine: Parliament to consider no-confidence vote in government.

United States: Anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing which claimed 168 lives and was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks – 1995.